Snowed In

Situated high up in the mountains, Double Diamond’s resort is tough to get to under normal circumstances, let alone in a blizzard. Thankfully, the four guests in cabin 16 arrived well before the storm. They’ve settled into their cabin and are watching the storm dump inches of powdery snow on the slopes of Mount Hoof snuggled under blankets and sipping hot cocoa. A jigsaw puzzle sits neglected on the table between them; it can’t compete with the artistry of the pegasus snowcrafters.

The overcast sky slowly darkens as Celestia lowers the sun. Lighting candles, the ponies reluctantly turn their attention away from the window and back to the puzzle.

As the evening wears on Northern Lights starts yawning. It’s not a school night, and she has no official bedtime while on vacation, but routines are hard to break. Her eyelids get heavy and it’s not long before the cabin is filled with her soft snores. Powder levitates her youngest daughter to one of the bedrooms, tucking her in and giving her a goodnight kiss on her forehead.

It isn’t long before she and her older daughters turn in for the night themselves. They’re all as giddy with anticipation as foals on Hearth’s Warming Eve – there’s been no snow in Whinnyapolis since winter wrapped up months ago, nor is any snow scheduled in their hometown for months to come.

The weather in Equestria runs on a schedule, and the pegasi of Our Town are quite proud of their abilities. Like clockwork, the snow tapers off just before dawn. The morning reveals a pristine winter landscape stretching for miles in every direction.

Four eager ponies are already up and having breakfast as rays of sunlight poke through the clouds. Cereal finished, Northern Lights leaps out the door and lands barrel-deep in the fresh powder. Snow’El, the only pegasus in the group, flies over the stuck filly, then lands in the snow on her back, wings spread. She’s made a perfect snow angel.

Snowcatcher helps the earth pony from the snow with her magic, while Powder floats over the scarf and boots the impatient filly had neglected to put on before dashing out the door.

“Awww, do I have to wear these?”

“Yes you do.”

Northern Lights grumbles, but relents. Snowcatcher brushes her off and Powder dresses her – the filly is in a hurry and unicorn magic can do the job quickly. Once Northern Lights is outside, the two unicorns start gathering the family’s skiing gear. Snow’El joins them to gather her own equipment.

Northern Lights barges in through the back door. “Do you wanna build a snowpony?”

[CHOICE]

They build a snowpony with Northern Lights. (hero)
No, but if Northern Lights doesn’t want to go skiing, maybe there’s another option… (chaos)
They’ve come to ski, and that’s what they’re going to do. (villain)